Bradford Keith Downs, Sr.

Bradford Keith Downs, Sr., 69, of Vidor, passed into eternal life Friday, January 3, 2025. He was born on February 11, 1955, in Beaumont, to JoAnn Dorsey and James Edgar Downs, Sr.

Brad was a strong, resilient leader and protector from a very young age. He met the love of his life and soul mate, Clara, at the age of 14 and began writing a life story that would end up changing generations to come. Brad poured all he had into Clara and his family. He learned the craft of plumbing from his father and became a master plumber early in his career. This led to him establishing his own plumbing company that lasted over 40 years. His mission was to ensure that his family would have the best life possible, and that would not come easy. He was never afraid of hard work and loved his family more than anything.  He was known as an honest, generous, and smart worker who never cut corners and always did things “the right way”. His examples of selflessness were inspiring to so many people. He was an entrepreneur. In addition to B&B Plumbing, he also owned a concrete company, a screen-printing company, and bought and sold heavy equipment. For the last 30 years, Brad and Clara became respected home builders who have touched so many lives.

Brad was a faithful and devoted Catholic. He loved spending time with his family at the beach fishing, playing games, and people watching on the deck of his beach house. Brad was known to his family as Papa. Papa was a fixer. There was nothing that Papa couldn’t fix. Papa loved teaching his kids and grandkids about anything and everything. Nothing made him happier than seeing his grandkids growing into strong, faithful, and talented young adults.

Survivors include his wife, Clara Danna Downs, of Vidor; children, Bradford Keith Downs, Jr. and his wife, Ginger, of Mont Belvieu; Latisha Downs Sodolak and her husband, Chad, of Vidor; and Brook Downs Mahan of Vidor; grandchildren, Bradford Keith Downs III and his wife, Mary Grace; Victoria Clark and her husband, Zach; Rebecca Duplissey and her husband, Matthew; Luke Sodolak; Noah Sodolak; Lily Sodolak; Sam Mahan; Max Mahan; and Jud Mahan; great-grandchildren, Bradford IV, Gianna, Ellie, and Jude; siblings, Jeff Downs, Regina Lee, Angela Blalock and Tyrone Downs; and numerous extended family members and friends throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Edgar Downs, Jr.

Memorial contributions for Brad may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

A gathering of Mr. Downs’ family and friends will begin at 9:00 a.m., with his Rosary to be recited at 10:30 a.m., and a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2025, at St. Jude Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys Avenue, Beaumont.